Yeah. Okay. Township of Edison zoning board of adjustment regular meeting of October 14th, 2025 is now in session. Adequate notice of this meeting as required by the Open Public Meetings Act of 1975 has been provided by the annual notice
published in the Home News and Tribune on December 13, 2024 as imposed in the main lobby of the mun complex on December 18th, 2024. Please join me in pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to
the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Madam Secretary, roll call, please. Mr. Carly here. Mr. Bnel here. Miss Shaw here.
Mr. Aayot here. Mr. Johnny here. Mr. Chabra here. Mr. Cerrito here. Mr. Patel here. Mr. Schneider here. Vice Chair Gorman here. And Chairman Kumba here. Thank you, Madam Secretary. Um, minutes for consideration.
Minutes of September 30th, 2025 for approval. What's the board's pleasure? Motion to approve. Second. Motion made by Mr. Chabra, seconded by uh Mr. Patel. Roll call, please. Mr. Johnny, yes.
Mr. Cerrito, yes to the motion. Mr. Chabra, yes to the motion. Mr. Snider. Yes to the motion. Mr. Patel, yes to the motion. Vice Chair Gorman, yes on the motion. And Chairman Gumba, yes on the motion. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Secretary. Okay. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. This is a regular meeting of the township of
Edison zoning board of adjustment. The board is composed of Edison Township residents appointed by municipal council who volunteer their time and service to the board. The municipal land use law requires that members successfully complete a land use training course administered by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. This board also holds in-house training
conducted by our board professionals. The zoning board abides by the provision of the mispul land use law in addition to our board's bylaws. The zoning board is a quasi judicial land use board which differs from the township planning board. Under the mispful land use law, board members are required to be impartial and are not allowed to discuss any case prior to being considered at a
hearing. All applicants will have the opportunity to present their case before the board along with the opportunity for board members and board professionals to question the applicant and their witnesses. At the conclusion of the applicant's presentation of their case, the case will open to the public. Residents within 200 feet of the subject's site will be heard, followed
by residents from outside of 200 feet. All residents will be sworn in. They'll provide their name and address. They'll be given six minutes to comment on the application being considered without the opportunity for a rebuttal. Residents may ask questions of the applicant, the applicant's professionals, and board professionals. The board requests that
these questions are asked prior to any commentary being made on the application. Once commentary begins, the resident's timer will begin. The applicant will be allowed the opportunity for cross-examination of their witnesses. Under the law, this chair is allowed to stop any commentary which is repetitive or attempt to
filibuster the board. Further, the chair is allowed to stop any commentary that is irrelevant to the case or prohibited from the board's consideration. Once public portion is closed, all public comments are ended unless new testimony is presented by the applicant. Following the closure of the public portion, the applicant will have the right summation
on their application. Following summation, the case will go to the board for a decision. This procedure has been followed by the board and is similar to the procedures followed by boards of adjustment statewide. The misu land use law requires the board to engage in a balancing act and is not required to strictly apply township ordinances,
zoning plan or master plan. As a board of adjustment, variances are granted when appropriately necessary following all legal considerations. As has been the case with prior boards, this board will see where where we are at if we are still in session around 10:30 p.m. Given what to to set how long we would
continue. I ask that all applicants, professionals, and residents show respect to each other and be civil throughout all proceedings. I ask that you withhold applause, booing, erupting anyone while they are speaking. The chair will not tolerate any outburst by applicants, professionals, or the public. Further, since most cases are
being recorded by a court reporter, I ask the speakers do not speak over one another. Uh, first matter on the agenda is uh close session. Madam Secretary, could you just read the close session? This is for pending litigation on care 1 case matter Z46 2017.
Can I get a motion to go to close session? Motion to move to close session. Second. Motion made by Mr. Schneider. Second by Vice Chairman Gorman. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Nay. The eyes have it. The board will adjourn to close session. We should not be long folks. We're good.
Okay. Can I get a motion to return to public session? Motion to return to public session. Second. Motion made by Mr. Schneider. Second by Mr. Patel. All in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Those nay. The eyes have it. Board return to public session. Madam Secretary, first case on the
agenda, please. Piece number Z33 2024 Asian Fresh of Edison LLC at 1829 to 1837 Lincoln Highway carried here for a vote only. Good evening, Mr. Himlman. Good evening. How are you?
I'm well, thank you. Go ahead. Uh David Himlman for the applicant uh Asian Fresh of Edison LLC. And I understand, Mr. Chairman, that uh this is a vote only at this time. Okay. All right. So, you did your summation. You're good. We wrapped up.
Yep. We wrapped up. Did our summations. All right. So, I'll go to the board for any uh discussion or motion. Mr. Chairman, vice chairman. I'd like to make a motion to approve this based on the met the positive and negative and positive criteria and that any um items
that we discussed and agreed to in reference to the um the exit signs no left turn there's going to be two and that you comply with the engineering and planners reports. I'm also going to add um just for the
record that which has had been testified to and agreed to uh refuge pickup will occur between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Um the delivery uh will be between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00
p.m. There will be no trailers. Um also uh the applicant will agree to include signage that all parking is just for that parking center only. Um and uh that's it. Okay. So motion made. Is there a second? Second.
Motion made by Vice Chairman Gorman. Seconded by Mr. Patel. Roll call, please. Mr. Johnny, yes to the motion. Mr. Cerrito, yes on the motion. Mr. Chabra, yes to the motion. Mr. Schneider, yes to the motion. Mr. Patel, yes on the motion.
Vice Chair Ogorman, yes on the motion. And Chairman Kumba. Uh, I vote yes on the motion, but I would just also add, I know there were some interested residents um when this went to the public portion. Um, my recommendation would be uh for you to go to council um so as to petition them to uh the parking
within the area within the area where it's restricted to residents only, where it's only during weekdays. My recommendation would be to uh have the council have your neighborhood be changed to residently parking 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Um, that's not something that this board has the has the authority to do, but it's within
council authority. Um, and I vote yes. This application is unanimously approved. Congratulations, chairman. Thank you. Members of the board, I want to thank you for uh your diligent review of this and also your professionals, your board planner and engineer and uh again on behalf of the applicant uh we will gladly move forward
with this application and apply with and of course adhere to all resolution compliance and have a good night. Thank you so much. We appreciate it. Have a great night. All right. Madam Secretary, next case on the agenda, please. Case number Z22, 2025, Nashwar, Swante
at 17 Church Hill Road. Applicant is seeking bulk variances to construct an addition to the existing single family dwelling. The following standards have not been met. Max building coverage required is 20%, proposed is 22.39%. Affected property is located in the RBB
zone designated as block number 490.13 lot number 27 on the Edison Township tax map. All noticing paperwork is in order. Good evening. So, good evening, Chad. So, sir, I'm going to have you raise your right hand. Raise your right hand.
Raise your Do you solemnly swear or affirm to tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth to help you God? Yes. And if you could pull that microphone close to you and tell me what your name is. I'll pull it a lot closer than that. Yeah. Yeah. My name is Naneshwar Sant. And are you the only person testifying
tonight? No. And joining me are my daughter Ashwini Savant and my architect Malati Ana Krishna. Okay. Is everybody testifying? Okay. Would you raise your right hand? And would you also raise your right hand? Do
you solemnly swear or affirm to tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth to help you God? Yes. Yes. Okay, state your name first. Pull that microphone and close. Hi, my name is Ashweeni Sin. I'm sorry. Could you spell that? A S like Sam, H like Victor, I N like
Nancy, I and then Sal is the same as my dad. And if you could Thank you. Hi, Mali Ananta Krishnan, registered architect in New Jersey and New York. Do you want me to qualify now or later? Uh yeah, we'll qualify you now. Just get
over with. Okay. Um, so if you just please provide the board with a summary of your background and qualifications. Um, I have a bachelor's in architecture and a masters in arch in urban planning from Virginia Tech. I'm a registered architect in New Jersey since 2022 with my own practice since 2025. I'm sorry,
2002 and 2005. Um, I have testified in front of a number of boards including this board um, prior to COVID. I sit on the planning board in my town and was on the zoning board for five years prior to that. And your license are current and good standing. Yes.
Thank you so much. We will accept you. Okay. Uh we are here for a variance on our house to build a small extension for a bedroom and a full bath on the first floor. I have lived in this house since 1987.
I would like to age in place and stay in the same neighborhood that I have lived in for the last 40 years. Yeah. If you have any questions then Malti will uh provide you all the detailed information about the
construction. Okay. Would you would it be easier if you sat down? There's the the court reporter's chair is at the edge of the table if you want to go. I wanted to go to Okay, that works. Yeah. Uh I have one exhibit A1. Okay. If you could just hand to the secretary, please. Photographs that were taken by the
homeowner yesterday. Thank you. You may proceed. Good evening. Um, as Mr. Savand explained, he has lived in this home for 38 years with uh, and presently it's him and his wife. They would like to um, age
in place out here. So we are um try proposing a single bedroom addition on the first floor uh with a fully handicapped uh bathroom so that um as needs arise, medical needs arise, they will be um prepared for um that. The
addition is right behind the existing twocar garage. Um this is a traditional colonial built in 1987 um with um you know living dining a center hall colonial. So, living dining on either side, a family room, and kitchen in the rear. Um, there is an
existing laundry room and powder room right behind the twocar garage. Um, we'd like to fill out the space behind that for a handicapped accessible bathroom and a bedroom with a walk-in closet.
The where we came up with a requirement for a variance is in the is only in the maximum building coverage. Um the existing house on the ground floor is 1738 ft² with a garage of 500 square ft
and um the addition is 413 square ft. I tried to keep it to the minimum size as possible to accommodate you know 5ft turning radius for the uh bathroom and the bedroom. Um so the total building coverage became 2,238
where a little less than 2,000 square ft is allowed. So we are at 22.39% while 20% is the allowed variance. Um we're not looking for any variance on any setbacks or maximum impervious coverage. It is strictly only for
building coverage and it's it's a need that they have at this stage in life. That's all I have to say. Okay. Is there any questions? Board have any questions for Miss Anithan Christian? Okay. All right. Thank you very much. Sir, do you have anything to add?
You have anything to add to the case, ma'am? No. No. Okay. All right. So, we will now go out to the public. Anyone within 200 feet of subject site wanting to be heard? If you're within 200 feet of subject site, you received a notice via certified mail. Anyone outside of 200 feet wanting to be
heard? Can I get a motion to close the public portion? Motion to close the public portion. Second. Motion made by Vice Chairman Gorman, second by Mr. Schneider. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Those nay. The eyes have it. Public portion is now closed and I'll go to the board. Mr. Chairman, Vice Chairman, I'd like to make a motion to approve
this uh application. It's a dimminimous uh requirement variation. There's no opposition from the public. It'll improve the area and it meets the positive and negative criteria of the law. Second. Motion made by Vice Chairman Gorman,
second by Mr. Patel. Roll call, please. Mr. Johnny, yes to the motion. Mr. Cerrito, yes on the motion. Mr. Chabra, yes to the motion. Mr. Schneider, yes to the motion. Mr. Patel, yes on the motion. Vice Chair Gorman, yes on the motion. And Chairman Gamba,
yes on the motion. Congratulations. Unanimously approved. Thank you very much for your time. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Madam Secretary, next case on the agenda, please. Case number amended Z3820
23 Shenoi construction at 12 Moisy Place. Applicant is seeking a DU variance for a technical error of the previous approved F of 48. Standards have not been met in accordance with the master plan. Maximum floor area required is30.
Proposed is 0.52. Affected property is located in the LB zone. Designated as block number 430, lot number 18.01. 01 on the Edison Township tax map. All noticing paperwork is in order. Good evening, Mr. Shire. Good evening, Mr. Chairman, members of
the board. My name is Bernard Sh, firm of Conv Convary and Shire. Uh I'm representing the applicant in this matter. Uh the property in question is 12 Moy Place, uh block 430, lot 18.01
in the LB zone. Uh presently the property is vacant. Uh the proposal is for a three-unit triplex residential structure uh for three one-bedroom uh apartments. Uh the uh variance being
sought is really an amendment of a prior granted variance uh of 48 F. Uh the actual uh number should be 0.52. Uh have Mr. John Dupant uh licensed uh
engineer and planner of the state of New Jersey uh to testify this evening to explain exactly what we're doing. Uh there was a a prior as I said there was a prior approval granted by this board uh for the F violation. Uh however it
was it was erroneous uh due to several reasons and Mr. Dupant can explain it. Mr. Mr. Dupont, you'll be sworn first. You solemnly swear or affirm to tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth to help you God. I do. And state your name for the record.
John P. Dupant. Mr. Dupont, you've appeared before this board prior. If you just please provide us with a summary of your background qualifications. I have a bachelor of science in civil engineering from University of Hartford. I am a licensed professional engineer in the state of New Jersey. I'm also a licensed professional planner of state
in Jersey by examination. been serving as the bur of Carter planes zoning board engineer for the past 28 years been in front of this board numerous times and your license are current good standing they are we'll accept you may proceed you will accept you as a uh engineer and planner Mr. Dupant, you've been uh retained by
the applicant in this matter uh for your uh engineering and planning review. That is correct. Uh could you please uh describe the location of the property and its present condition? Right. So I think the board's familiar with the property, but just briefly, this is 12 Mois Place. It is block 430,
lot 1801. It's 0.19 acres. Uh property is currently vacant. There's been an application for this board for two prior applications. One was an office building for a contractor building and that is was approved and didn't didn't get built. The most recent one was for three
single three residential units attached all onebedrooms that was approved. So it was three units all onebedroom all with garages with basement and that was the approved one. And on that, that's where we have the problem. When we got approved from the board and we had the
final resolution approval packages we're putting together as we were going through the detail on the submitted site plans, it said 0.48 was the F. On the architectural plan, it showed 0.517
or 0.52. It's the exact same building. The building is not changing. The footprint's not changing. The size is not changing. It was an error on the engineering plan that we should have showed the 0.52. So, the only thing
tonight that's really changing is that number. Um, still keeping the basement, still keeping the garages, there's no grain changes, there's no drainage changes, nothing else will change. It was simply cleaning up that basically typo. Um, everything else will stay
exactly the same with the project. Board have any questions, Mr. Dupont? Mr. Chairman. Vice Chairman. So, it's still still going to remain a onebedroom. The office is going to be an office and the basement is going to be non-habitable. Yeah. Unfinished. Absolutely. Unfinished basement. Exact same building, unfinished basement. Yes.
Thank you. Any other questions? Okay. Thank you. That is the applicant's case, Mr. Chairman. Uh it's simply an application to correct uh the I guess what could be called a typo.
Yeah. I hope we got a new typewriter. Okay. All right. So now go out to the public. Anybody anyone within 200 feet of subject site wanted to be heard. If you're within 200 feet of subject site, you receive the notice via certified mail. Anyone outside 200 ft of subject site? Seeing none, can I get a motion to close public portion?
Motion to close public portion. Second. Motion made by Vice Chairman Gorman, second by Mr. Schneider. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Nay. The eyes have it. Public portion is now closed. Mr. Char, do you have any summation? Uh, no. This is a rather simple application compared to most of them. Uh
it's it's essentially to correct an error uh that was made in the presentation uh of the original plan and uh testimony. Great. All right. So, we'll go to the board. Mr. Chairman, Vice Chairman, make a motion to approve. Uh this
application is to correct an error uh from the approved application prior. It's still going to remain one bedroom. There's going to be an office that's not going to be habitable and also a basement. There's no opposition from the public and it meets the positive and negative criteria of the law.
Second motion made by Vice Chairman of Gordon, second by uh Mr. Certo. Roll call, please. Mr. Johnny, yes to the motion. Mr. Cerrito, yes on the motion. Mr. Chabra, yes to the motion. Mr. Schneider, yes to the motion. Mr. Patel,
yes on the motion. Vice Chair Gorman, yes on the motion. and Chairman Kumba. Yes on the motion. Congratulations. Unanimous approval. Get it built. I don't want to see you again. Thank you. All right, we're going to take a two-minute recess just to let the next case set up.
All right, the board will return to session. Madam Secretary, next case on the agenda, please. Case number Z82025 Sacred Foundation at 3880 Park A. Applicant is seeking use variance to utilize 2,800 square feet of the 65,000
square foot building and will share a parking lot with the building for use of house of worship and gathering. Standards have not been met in accordance with the master plan. A place of worship is not a permitted use in this zone. Affected property is located in the RI zone designated as block
number 593, lot number 1.35 on the Edison Township tax map. All noticing paperwork is in order. Thank you. Good evening, Mr. Prasad. Good evening, chair. Uh good evening members of the board. Uh David Prasad for uh the applicant sacred foundation, a New Jersey nonprofit and a religious
organization. Um as mentioned, we are seeking a use variance tonight uh to permit a religious house of worship in the RARI uh restricted industrial zone. The application or the site is uh block 593, lot 1.35
uh designated as 3880 Park Avenue. Uh this is a continuation hearing from August 26, 2025. Um as mentioned, we are seeking a religious use variance. Uh we anticipate about 40 to 50 congregants per day spread out through the entire
day and each congregant will be staying for approximately 15 minutes per visit. Uh we understand that there is some concern from the neighboring community um about traffic and other uses, but I would like to just reiterate that this is a very small religious temple going
into a quite large build of a building. Um at the last hearing, our traffic our applicants traffic engineer and a professional planner were able to testify. Uh both are here tonight available for additional questioning or additional testimony as needed. um to
address a testimony in the past, the applicant was in fact willing to limit all egress and ingress to one exit only. But in review of the safety memo provided by uh Sergeant Winters from the Edison Police Department, uh we have concluded that it is quite in fact safer
to use the Park Gate Drive as an exit only. Um that is a recommendation from your safety traffic safety coordinator and we anticipate that that would be better off for the township as a whole. Um, that being said, um, I only have Mr.
John Ray here tonight to address the last statement that I just made about using Parkgate Drive as a egress only, no ingress. Um, and if the board could swear in Mr. Ray, um, he would testify to that. Small me swear or affirm to tell the
whole truth, nothing but the truth to help you, God? I do. And state your full name for the record. John Ray, R E A. And Mr. Mr. Ray, you were qualified in the last hearing. Just only question license still current in good standing. Yes, sir. Thank you. We'll accept you. Uh Mr. Ray, if you can please uh give
the board the benefit of your study and using the Park Gate Drive as an egress only. Sure. Well, I did testify at the last meeting and uh originally our plan was to use the unsalized access to Park Avenue for all of our ingress and egress
movements. Uh that was an attempt by my client to just satisfy the concerns of the Parkgate Condominium Association. Uh however, after reviewing the Edison Police report uh that recommended that we use Parkgate Drive for an exit only
to gain access to the signal at Park Avenue and Parkgate Drive. I quite frankly agree with Sergeant Winters that that would provide a safer means of accessing northbound Park Avenue for people making a left turn coming out of the site to go north on Park Avenue or
to go straight across onto Stevenville Parkway. To put the impact in perspective from a traffic generation point of view, during the highest peak hour at the intersection of Park Avenue and Stevenville Parkway, which is uh 4:45 to
5:45 in the afternoon, there are over 2,000 cars going through the intersection. We actually counted 2015 cars going through the intersection. We are going to add six cars to the intersection during that peak hour.
approximately six cars. And that's under what I would consider a worst case scenario, one in which the traffic generation during that peak hour is actually doubled from what the average would be during the course of the day with the temple being open 12 hours
during the course of the day from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. And with a maximum of 50 congregants using the uh the temple during that 12-h hour period, I doubled that traffic during the peak hour. And still, if we do that, we will have six
cars exiting the Parkgate Drive during the afternoon peak hour during that heaviest peak hour at the intersection. And that would represent an increase of 3/10en of 1% of the traffic volume at the intersection. It will have an imperceptible impact. It will not be uh
significant in any way, shape, or form. No one would even know that it's happening. We're talking about one car every roughly every 10 minutes going through the intersection. I have no further questions for Mr. Ray if the board has any questions. Board have any questions for Mr. Ray?
Mr. Chair, Mr. Chabber. Uh Mr. Ray, uh what is So you said six cars are added during peak time from this temple that's being implemented. What about the rest of the building? What's the traffic there? Right. There is one tenant in the building. They currently are using the
Park Avenue, the unsalized access to Park Avenue. They may also be using Park Gate Drive. I'm not sure. There's one small tenant that's in the building. And in order to do my traffic study, I did account for the untenanted space within the building, which I assumed could
eventually be utilized as warehouse space. I included that in my traffic analysis. What's the other tenant that's there currently occupying the space as? Uh my client would have a I think it's some kind of a lab. Okay. A company that does laboratory work. Got it. And what's the traffic? Uh uh
you said well how many cars for that one that I I counted 10 cars in the parking lot during my visit and looking at the existing volumes going out to Park Avenue from that use. Let me take a look at the existing volumes
at five cars exiting during the morning peak hour and 15 cars exiting during the afternoon peak hour. And how much of the building is still unoccupied? 2,800 square feet for us. I'm not sure exactly what the other tenant is taking,
but I would say approximately uh a good 50 to 55,000 square feet is still untened. Okay. So, my concern is that the six cars are being addited for the 4% that you guys are occupying and there's another 96 in question, right?
Okay. So we would like to get a better understanding of what the other use is going to be and what's the generation of traffic there. Well, I did generate traffic for the balance of the warehouse space using the Institute of Transportation Engineers trip generation manual for warehouse
space and it will be warehouse space. The office space on the second floor will be ancillary to the warehouse. It's my understanding that the ground floor of the building which is I believe 49,000 square feet. Give me give me a second.
almost. Yes. Over 49,000 square feet on the ground floor. It's got a very high ceiling. It is warehouse space and so I use the uh warehouse land use code from the IT in order to generate traffic for the balance of the building and that is included in my traffic analysis.
Okay. So you're saying like roughly 10,000 square feet is office. The rest 55,000 is warehouse. Is that the distribution? Uh, yes. A little bit more than 10,000 square feet of office. Okay. All right. Thank you for the clarification. Thank you. Any other questions for Mr. Rick?
Mr. Chairman, vice chairman. So, the the unoccupied approximately 55,000 square feet. Is there any loading docks in there? Uh, there there are loading docks at the rear of the building if I'm not mistaken. There there's a loading zone
at the rear of the building. loading zone, meaning there's a loading dock with that the tractor trailer comes in and out. It's not a dock. It is a lo It's a a cross-hatched loading zone. And it looks like the whole parking lot and the layout and everything has been designed
for a truck no bigger than a single unit SU30 truck, not a tractor trailer. Did your traffic study include the the trucks coming in and out for the safety of the Yes, sir. That's in That's in the warehouse trip generation for the IT with the IT.
Thank you. Yes, Mr. Ray. With regard to vice chairman's question, so the parking for the temple, I believe they were there there's um parking within the back of the property in the rear of the property. Yes. Okay. Um, so is there any envisioning
any um crosswalks? Because it's just my concern that if there's trucks coming in making deliveries and there's people coming, pedestrians coming back and forth, I just don't want there to be an issue. Okay. It looks like where the parking will be located for the temple will be
in an area where it it's pretty there is a truck there is a loading zone at the south west corner of the building and it's pretty far removed from where the people will park for the temple. Okay. So, we're not going to have any issue
with trucks and pedestrians. Correct? I do not believe so. No. Okay. Okay. All right, we have any other questions, Mr. Ray? Yes, please. I have a couple of questions about uh food preparations. Are is there a kitchen in the temple?
No, I can't answer that question, but my attorney is saying no. I I think somebody testified to that at the last meeting. Do you sell prepared foods from the temple? No. Anyone is going to stay over in the temple? No.
Thank you. Mr. McNeel. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, can you hear me? Um, I just have a couple of quick questions. Um, first, uh, will there be any, uh, overflow parking issues? Uh, if there's any holidays or
large gatherings, will it have any large gatherings or My understanding, and I think it was testified to at the last meeting, is that they will not hold services on high holy days at this location. It will be offsite. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Bau. Any other questions? Okay. All right. Thank you very much. I have no further witnesses for this. Okay. All right. So, we do have an issue that um was presented at the end of the uh last
hearing. Mr. Cross, if you can approach. So, Mr. Cres, in the last hearing, you had presented uh a copy of uh the agreement between uh Parkgate and Specs Industries, who was the property owner at that time. Um so we wanted to just give you we the board has reviewed it.
Want to give you an opportunity to speak to it. Certainly. Um yes. U as the applicant pointed out the the traffic study indicated that it would be safer to use the park drive as an eress point for the lot. Um, as I explained during the last hearing, according to the agreement
between the property owner and the association, uh, the applicant would not be legally permitted to use that exit as an egress point for this property. It is strictly limited to the owner of the building and its invitees and guests, which the owner is not even actually
occupying the building. They're now starting to subdivide and subleasase it out. So, as I pointed out the last hearing, um the association objects to this proposed use, at least to the extent they attempt to use that egress point, and the association is currently contemplating litigation to get an order
in joining that conduct. Okay. Do you have anything else to add? No. Okay. Mr. Um I did submit a memo to the zoning board for review um describing what the uh the agreement the 1982 agreement between the prior owners.
Mr. I was going to stop you one second. Did you provide a copy to Mr. Crest? I think we did. Did we not? Yeah. My office was supposed to provide a copy. I have copies here. If you can please just do so. Um then Mr. Crest, if you want to take a take a moment to to review. Um we're happy to
do that. Um in short while Mr. Crest does get a chance to review this uh memo um the agreement states that park being the park condom uh the park association um its successors and assigns are allowed
to use the park gate drive access point. Additionally, Specs, the prior owner of 3880 Park Avenue, its successors and assigns are allowed to use the access point. Um, the only limitation that we see in that agreement is that specs
itself, the prior owner of the property agreed to limit truck traffic, non-executive employee, non-administrative employee, non-b business employee, non- guests, non-invitees. Um, I would like to clarify as Mr. Crest was saying that we are not allowed to use this legally. Um,
we are a tenant of that building. We are we hold the same rights as the landlord. Essentially, we are allowed to use it. It's quiet enjoyment, free enjoyment of the property. Um, it is for business purposes. They have a lease agreement. It is technically an assignment of a
portion of that property to our tenants or our applicant as a tenant of that building. So utilizing that driveway, it was it would almost be the same as no other tenant in that building allowed to utilize that driveway.
Simply, it's just it's it does not make sense. We don't we don't agree with that interpretation of the agreement. Um and like Mr. Ray said, it is a very minimal amount of traffic that we would be contributing to this. Mr. Crest, simply the the argument is just not
logical. um the owner of the building has the right to use this assignment. They bought it. It doesn't permit him to subdivide that right out to as many tenants as he can possibly fit into that building. And this license agreement is only for the executive staff of that entity. It's not for all the employees
of that entity. It can actually carves out in paragraph 3 that anyone other than the executive staff have to use the southernmost entrance. So, I don't see how it's logical to say that the landlord can subdivide his rights to access the property from this easement
and then infinitely assign it to whomever he chooses when the agreement itself quite clearly indicates it's only meant for the executive staff of the property owner. So the property owner and as the board raised and the professionals raised asked to cordon off
and put a barrier at the entrance point at Park Gate Drive and the landlord, the owner refused to do that. So if the landlord had assigned its rights under this agreement to the applicant, the applicant who said they were willing to do that would have had the authority and power to do that and he indicated they
did not. So then he doesn't have a full assignment of these rights. So simply put, they just don't have the right to do it. And I know it's a little this is a kind of an odd way to present this issue because the association's dispute is with the property owner and not particularly with the applicant. So it's
the association will have to take its argument up with the applicant. We're just pointing this out here that if the approval is being granted based on the right that they're representing they have here, I don't think that's correct. And if they are lose that right, they will not be able to use it. So if that
becomes an issue for the approval, it would therefore undermine the approval. So that's that's the point I'm trying to raise. So I don't understand. Again, I only skimmed the argument. I was not provided with this beforehand, but that's why we didn't present this argument as a written argument to the to the board because again, our dispute is
with the property owner. And if I may, he's absolutely right. The this is a dispute between two property owners. It is not subject to this application in front of this board. Um this agreement stands I I do think that our interpretation that the applicant as
a tenant of the building is a successor is a successor. It is an assign. It is an inviteee for purposes of conducting business. It is a lease agreement and the tenant if the land if uh Mr. Crest is saying the landlord did not assign its full property rights to the tenant.
No landlord does. They still control the property. So, in that sense, the tenant will have to get confirmation or approval from a landlord to install a gate to prohibit access. But we don't think that is necessary. As we said, we don't think we're contributing that much traffic or that much interference to the
Parkgate community. And um this is an agreement between two property owners. And I think that um the tenant is a is a entity that is allowed to use this driveway and is allowed to continue using the driveway. and whoever else is a tenant in that building should be able
to use this driveway. Mr. Chris, he's responding. Michelle, you would you like to use your esquire and and weigh in? So, I will weigh in. Um, the reason we asked for the agreement and for the board to review it as the board was contemplating certain restrictions that
may have been of an emulative nature in order to address potential traffic concerns. And one of those concerns were raised was whether or not Park Gate could be accessed or not accessed. And to the extent a resolution is going to discuss the ingress egress by the
applicant um this is a relevant document for the board to have reviewed. Having reviewed it I disagree that it is not a restrictive easement. It is a reciprocal easement. In fact it says so. Um I said I believe it very clearly sets forth
that it's to successors and assigns not just to specs but also to park gate. The language is reciprocal in both sections. It is not unique or different. Um to say that it seems bizarre to say that you have a warehouse on one property and the
use is restricted simply to an owner because that's not what it says and that's not what's recorded. But I I agree with both attorneys that this is a contractual agreement between Parkgate and Specs and therefore it is a uh
contractual issue that the board does not need to concern itself with. I think the board can decide the application and decide the merits of the application and um someone with a black row will I'm sure make a decision for all of you.
Okay. All right. Thank you very much. Okay, Mr. Pride. Um, one question. I saw a note um, was that the applicant will uh, pres would submit a lighting analysis for the site and then we did have a copy of the lighting analysis. Yes, we did submit that. Okay. Is this something did the board
review is something would you like to present? I see if the board has any questions. I see Mr. Dupont is present. Mr. Dupont is present. If the board does have any questions, however, uh, in short, I can say that he he had submitted a conforming lighting plan. Okay. Does the board have any questions for Mr. Dupont with regard to a lighting plan?
Seeing none. Okay. All right. Thank you very much. Okay. Um, so Mr. Cres, are you your portion is done? You're good. Yes. Okay. All right. Mr. Plesi, I saw you hiding out somewhere. Come on up. Come on up. Come on up.
Thank you, Chair Fred Paglitzi, 2163 Oak Road on behalf of 3900 Park Avenue office condominium associates. I represent the property owner immediately to the south of the building that we're in question and not only immediately to the south but also where the south part
of the building is where their uh their tenency will be and will also be where the entrance to the building is and and if there as I stated last time not to be repetitive but if there when there is an overflow their uh goers will be parking
in the nearest available spots which will be my client's property. And if the board was uh would be considering this application and granting it, I would just ask as part of the condition that a fence be placed from an existing chain link fence that currently exists at the
property to the Park Avenue right away to prevent people from crossing over and parking in my client's property to use facility uh discussed here today. Okay. All right. Thank you, Mr. Thank you. You're good. All right. Thank you so much. All right.
Um, as as I mentioned at the last hearing, we are simply a tenant. We do not have the rights to install a fence on the property. Um, we will have discussions with the landlord if that's possible. We tried to talk to him about a fence and a gate. Both things were denied previously. Um, but just to
clarify, uh, and maybe to answer a question of Mr. Puglesi, um, the parking for the congregation and the entrance is not on the south side of the property. Uh the parking and the entrance is on the west side of the property which is the rear property line. Uh on the plan
that we submitted um and certain portions will be in the center but closer to the western side. On the plans that we submitted we have the reserved parking spaces as Mr. Bigell requested. Um so it is not on the south side. The entrance is also not on the south side. So, I don't think that there's any um
concern that our congregants will be parking at the neighboring property line or in the neighboring property at all. Um and also, we have a very limited amount of congregants and there's substantial parking on the site to allow for that. Okay. All right. Do you have anything
else to add, Mr. Pad, before we go to the public? That's all. Okay. All right. So, we'll now go out to the public. Uh we will begin with those within 200 feet of subject site. If you're within 200 feet of subject site, uh you received a notice via certified mail. This goes for any member of the public that was um is looking to speak.
Uh this was covered in the opening, but I'll just reiterate. So, each member of the public will have six minutes to address the board. Um you may ask questions of the applicant or the applicant's professionals. Um if you do so, we ask that your questions be made uh prior to any commentary. Once your
commentary begins, your timer will begin. If you ask, for example, if you ask a question and you and and you the professional answers and you say, "Well, I don't agree with that." You just gave commentary. Your your timer will begin. We give some leeway, but we have to we're not going to be here all night.
Um, so that being said, anyone within 200 feet of subject site want to be heard. Please approach. Sir, would you raise your right hand? Do you solemnly swear or attempt to tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth to help you God? Sir. Yes. Yes. Okay. Would you um state your full
name and provide your address? My name is Nick Vizard. I'm I'm the resident of 45 Park Gate Drive. I live within 200 ft from the proposed site and I was notified by mail. All Park Gate residents should really be
notified since they all have to enter or exit through that same and only traffic light. First, I'd like to point out the discrepancies between the applicant's testimony last time during the last meeting and the information found on
their website. The applicant stated that the House of Worship doesn't have a large following and organizes only one to two events per year. However, their website shows 600 members and that's before they move to Edison.
The website also mentions about over 25 events organized during the last two years. That's two events per month, not per year. The number of members and events are clearly understated in the proposal.
Per the expert, six cars added per hour exiting. That's not based on real numbers, obviously. Also, the expert talked about exiting traffic. I'll be focusing on incoming traffic, which is a bigger issue.
During the last meeting, we heard from the applicant's traffic expert that the police report does not approve entering the site from Target Drive. So, the applicant will only use the soft entrance, including the left turn from Park Avenue into the parking lot. Guess
what? That traffic expert didn't notice that there is a double yellow line on Park Avenue in front of the soft entrance. It prohibits the left turn by traffic laws. Just yesterday, I faced a Tesla stopped on Park Avenue North, waiting to turn
left into the south entrance across the double line with lots of traffic backed up behind it. Because traffic was nonstop both ways, that car abruptly cut in front of me to make it into the parking lot. Every additional car
accessing the house of worship going into this slot will create a traffic jam before the light, something the traffic expert chose to ignore. And when the applicant states that they will use only the south entrance, they are either planning to break the traffic
rules by crossing the double line or simply planning to use or north entrance from Parate Drive, something they promised not to do and are told by the police not to do. So what's going to stop them if there is no oneway gate,
which the owner doesn't agree with? Both of these options are illegal and unacceptable. They will create enormous traffic overflow by the soft entrance and by the light. It means dangerous traffic conditions. I experienced firsthand I experienced this firsthand
when exiting my community on Park Drive two months ago. I nearly avoided a head-on collision with a van heading the wrong way into north entrance. That's the third option to get into the parking lot. Three more parkage residents reported
that they experienced the same. Two driving and one walking. So recklessly breaking traffic laws by ignoring the wrongway signs will lead to tragic accident. The chance of this happening will exponentially increase when traffic and
these illegal turns increase. It's logical. And the site is no longer just light industrial zoning. As a long-term target resident, I'm asking you to protect the safety of our community, more than 500 people.
Thank you. Thank you very much, sir. Next person within 200 feet upside want to be heard. Please approach. At 3881 Park Avenue, excuse me. Excuse me one second, sir. Uh, Mr. Ray would like to respond to that um member of the public if possible. Sure, Mr. Ray. In spite of the fact that
I I do take issue with the um the gentleman's conclusion that there are going to be all sorts of significant traffic impacts, the single most important thing he said, which is incorrect, is that a double yellow line restricts left turns from being made into the property. Not the case. A
double yellow line just signifies a no passing zone in two directions on Park Avenue. It's legal to make a left turn across a double double yellow. Okay. Thank you very much. Sir, would you raise your right hand? Do you slely swear or affirm to tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth to help you go?
Yes, I do. Full name and your address, please. Got way 3881 Park Avenue. Go ahead, sir. If you just bring the microphone, I just want the court reporter can hear. Name again. Yes. Could you please The reporter is taking down all the
information. So, I would ask that you please speak loudly and clearly so she can take it down slow enough so we can make sure we have I I did it twice already. Scott Way, 3881 Park Avenue, Edison, New Jersey. I live directly across the street from Hariba,
which moved out. Um, I'm a lifetime resident of Edison. I recognize this respect and the important role of House of Worship play in our community. However, after careful review, I am unable to support the variance request for this proposed location on Park Avenue. My decision is based on specific
zoning considerations, including traffic congestion, parking limitations, land use capability, and neighborhood density. The goal is to ensure that all development aligns with the town's variance, which is zoned for the industrial, not the house of warship.
The traffic on Park Avenue is unbearable at times. Uh the noise all night from the car speeding down Park Avenue and Stevenville Parkway, loud engines, the radios actually shaking the house with the with the can't even watch your TV at night. Freaking radios are so loud. Um
even with that, you can't even hear the TV in the house. Not only that, the traffic is so bad that the residents on Park Avenue are having issues getting in and out of their driveways as long as as well as Park Gate. We are as Park Avenue
community do not need more traffic or noise in our community. The lighting is another problem. The lights on the building are as bright as a football stadium. This has been a major issue. We have been dealing with this and it's unacceptable to have to deal with this at all. I mean they shine right my I can
mow the grass in the middle of the night. That's how bright it is. And then yet garbage that comes from the building on occasion unacceptably also they unwrap pallets and leave the garbage in the parking lot blows over the neighbors yards and down Park Avenue. And with
that being said, there is tractor trailers going in and out of that property. I live directly across the street. I see it every day. We as neighbors never had any issues with the hariba which was accompanied in the facility before the new owners. It's a shame that the quality of life is
decreased so much on Park Avenue and continues. I have uh pictures to show you of traffic on Park A if you guys want to see them. The secretary wants to pick them up. Have do you have sufficient copies to show the applicants attorney?
I have one copy each. I'm not going to use all my printing this. If you want me to make more copies, I'll be glad to make copies and send them out. Okay. I also got copies of the lighting. I also have copies of people driving down
the opposite side of the road. Sir, hang on one moment because the applicant's attorney has to take a look at the photograph. So, if you want to present them, okay, and and we'll we'll pause your timer. The other thing is there's garbage thrown all over the place.
And also the accidents on Park Avenue. Accidents on Park Avenue have increased over the last two years. Um, recently you had a bus car go right underneath a bus with 50 kids on it. Nobody knew what to do. Driver couldn't even speak
English. That was one thing. Then you got a car that flipped over on Park Avenue. That was about a month, two months ago. You have another person that was that stole a car from Memo Park, ended up on Park Avenue crashing because the cops were chasing him. You have
another person that rearended another one. And I got pictures of everything. So, I'd like to show and present all that, too. I also spoke to the police station and the bureau downstairs, and they send me the information from
December to June. We already had one burglary and we had 16 accidents on Park Avenue. And the other thing is with the people driving down Park Gate, Sergeant Winters, Sergeant Samino, and Lieutenant
Turner is involved. They continue to do it every day. Last night, I had to call the cops to my house because somebody missed my car by two feet when I was pulling into my driveway doing 60 miles an hour, which is unacceptable.
So hopefully you guys don't approve this because it shouldn't it's just going to be the quality of life on Park Avenue has decreased. And I've been there since 19 94. I bought 38.95 Park Avenue. In 96 I bought 38.81 Park Avenue. and it's
just decreased big time ever since you put Thomas Road through and it's unacceptable. That's all I have to say. What would you like me to do? Um, if you'd like to submit him so Mr. Prasad can just review and then uh he'll submit to the board
secretary. Okay. Thank you very much. Um, Mr. Pad, did you have Yeah, if I could just quickly respond before I review those uh photos. Um most of the issues uh that this gentleman were was presenting is simply not our
applicant. The these are tenants that are in the current building. This is a if 18 wheelers are going and we are religious use. We don't have 18-wheeler trucks. Um if people are going down Park Gate Drive and going close to this gentleman's house or to his property,
it's not it's not us. We're not in the building yet. We don't intend to be the type of neighbor that um interferes with everyone's everyday life. It's a religious use. It is considered inherently beneficial because it brings
better uh everything essentially to the neighborhood. It is it's not some the complaints that he's having, especially about loud noise and cars and music. The building closes at 8:00 p.m. And I don't know much parishioners that go to a church blaring music out of their car.
But I just would like to say it's not the applicant that is doing that that is contributing to this uh degradation of life on Park A. Can I say one more thing? The other thing is there's three tenants in there right now. There's not one. Okay. Thank you very much, sir. Anyone
else within 200 feet of subject site want to be heard? Please approach. Okay. Sir, would you raise your right hand? Do you solemnly swear or affirm to tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth to help you, God? I do. And state your full name and provide
your address. My name is Ajit Singh Grey Wall. I live at 3885 Park Avenue um in Addison, of course. on Park Avenue is right opposite to the
building which is being considered. In my opinion, I've been there since 1997. I'm a registered pharmacist. Came to this country 1987. Now I'm a retire. I'm 75 years age. I served this community for 32 years.
My I just point out the things which I think will happen but if you put religious institution in there. Number one crowded area from time to time if not always. Number two extra
people along the road on the footpaths and everywhere else. Number three, lot more traffic itself which uh Scott way has mentioned which is causing problem already. Number number four people be coming from
outside from the not from the community and contributing to more traffic and crowd. Quality of living will be affected in that area. These days, religious places could be a
target. There's been more incidents since 23 to 24, but twice as many incidences in the religious places. These institutions should be away from the crowded places and wellprotected
areas. and federal government had to come in to protect the religious institutions. So that should be considered if they're allocating religious place there. There is a already a religious place on
Park Avenue which creates a lot not as often I see now every Friday used to be a big traffic jams everywhere. may have they may have to Scott has already mentioned he's you know the
lighting lighting does bother us a lot and there's a lot of garbage comes into our property from that property that place was allocated for employment at that time you guys approved as
industrial place for 100 people 100 people no more than 100 employees ever came there. Special days like wedding, important religious days, birthdays will create extra people
and future they may expand and change the structure etc. Zones for 4B is a industrial warehouse facility, not retail or religious. Any of you considering voting for it,
would you consider living to next to a institution, school, religious place? Then please vote yes. If no, please vote no. including the parishes people who be coming to the temple would they like to live near this sort of institution
that I will consider yes please best is to move religious places outside concentrated living accommodations. Thank you. Thank you very much. Anyone else within 200 feet of your site wanted to be heard?
Um, good. Yes, sir. Yes. Raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth to help you God? Yes. And state your full name and provide your address, please.
My full name is James Hanland. I'm um residing in 82 Park Drive. I'm also uh certified sup super superintendent of schools. My superintendency
comes uh from service in New York State. I was a headmaster of three schools there. So I'm coming to speak tonight on behalf of the kids and I've spent much time walking out when they arrive. They arrive with large
instruments. They arrive not only to come into Park 8, but to cross off into Stevenville Parkway. The bus lets them off. They move across from any time from 2:30 to 4:30 or 5 because they come at different
times. If they're in the high school or and they're in band, then they come late. If they're in grammar school in band, they come around 3:00 3:30. They're let out of school often with half days and so forth. This is an
accident willing to h ready to happen. And I want to put that here. I speak to you to say this is the danger that has not come. I do not want this on my conscience. A kid could get easily
nipped if you increase the traffic in this area. My suggestion would be to block off that in that exit so that they cannot come on to park 8 property because those kids run across there and as I say they cross the but the bus
stays there and runs its red lights so that the kids will uh traffic will be aware that those kids are safe. There's no one going to be able to do that at odd times. So we're looking at an accident from my point professional
point of view as a headmaster of three schools and a superintendent degree from Columbia University. I warn you ahead this will be on your conscience because there will definitely be some kind of accident if this are
allowed to go forward. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next person within the 200 feet. Sir, please approach. solemnly swear or from to tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth. So I hope you got I do. And state your full name. Provide your address.
John Hansen, 14 Francis Road, Edison, New Jersey. Are you guys aware that there's a there's a mosque uh not even a half a mile away from where they want to open up their uh faith fellowship?
And can anybody answer me how many people were supposed to be at that mosque at a given time? Does anybody know the answer to that? Nobody knows. I mean, sir, unless it's a hypothetical, you can't you cannot question the board.
Okay. Well, my point being is that I don't know how many people were approved to be there, but there's a lot more people than I'm assuming was approved because traffic's backed all the way up out of Olsen Road. Park Avenue is backed
up to Otree Road. So, when they have something going on there, there is definitely a lot of traffic in the area. The second thing is, can you tell me your hours of operation? Sure. Give me one second. Let me get it open.
um 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Then the building will be closed until 400 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Okay. And how many people will be permitted in there? Uh whatever the standard is for the 2,800 ft fire code,
the standard for the 20 uh for the uh 2,800 feet fire code, but we are proposing 40 to 50 congregants per day. 40 to 50 per day. And how's that going to be enforced? That that's just the size of the congregation, sir.
But what happens if more people than that show up? Do you turn them away? Do you have to make an appointment to go there? No, you don't. So, you can't really guarantee that there's only going to be 40 or 50. There could be a lot more than that. Um, if the board would like me to
address that, uh, currently they have about 10 people visiting their existing location. they accommodated 40 to 50 just to make sure that we have higher traffic counts and more um just a better understanding of how this will operate and with 40 to 50 people it's probably
going to be less than that but that is what we are anticipating at the highest amount and I I believe that we testified to that at the last hearing but you can't guarantee that no I guess I cannot but we will comply with what we say about 40 to 50 congrens
per day Thank you very much, sir. Next person with the TR, please confer, sir. Raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm to tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth to help you God? Yes. And state your full name and provide your address.
My name is Venit Kumar. I'm a resident of 55 carriage place. Uh I reside in the same powergate community. You may proceed, sir. Okay. Thank you. Am I allowed to ask questions? So if you ask questions, your questions should be asked of the professionals first prior to commentary. Once you start
commentary, your timer will begin. Sure. Sure. Yeah. My uh I I have a lot of respect for what they are doing. Uh and many of the residents, you know, the reason they are here is not because of any religious or personal reasons. It's
just a matter of safety and traffic. So I would want the congregation to understand that I share the same there's a lot of commonality but the question I I would like to ask u I think last time I was here uh Kulkarni gi mentioned you
know that they have a particular sect 40 to 50 people in the congregation the question here is if I being of the same faith if I am if I go to that temple am I allowed to be in that temple yes 35%
of the people population in Edison they are of the same faith. Okay. Now within one to two miles of that you know there are a lot of people who are of the same faith of the Hindu faith. Okay. In Hinduism there are three main gods but
they all could be prayed. I could go to any god. I could go to their god and I will be served. I will be given the same regards and same blessings. Am I am I correct?
Am I correct? Okay. So the the point is nobody is stopping anybody from going to the temple. It is a pious place. Everybody goes there. We get blessings. Right? So the point which I'm making is 40 to 50 people of congregation that's
just a number made up to work out the calculations. There are more than 100 people of the same faith within Parkgate community. If I have a temple next to me, why would I go drive four five miles away? Why shouldn't I go to the temple when I know
that if I go to the same or the different god I will get the same blessings? So who is stopping? There is no end. There is no limit to the parking spaces. And like my previous speaker
mentioned that there is no way to regulate or you know control the number of people coming to a religious place because it's a religious place. The same would happen here which is a which is a good thing but not in the incorrect place you know the all the religious
places uh if I am practicing my religion it should it should not become a problem for the society. If if my religion I'm putting there 50 cars in a day, there are other kids who are crossing the roads. Okay, there it it increases the
probability multiffold of accident. But I'm not against any religious or anything. Uh what I want is that the pargate inlet e eress and ingress you are you guys are welcome to practice
whatever you want but we want to build a wall and exclusively use that for our own traffic because pargate has only single entry and exit point with a residence uh where there are 298 units
of more than a,000 people. Just imagine using the same resident, same ingress and egress point and the egress is only five cars long. On top of that, this particular religious institute is only utilizing or
going to utilize 2,800. What would how or how would we enforce or what would stop the owner of that property to subdivide that existing 50,000 into multiple units and then rent it out?
The last point which I want to make is is that uh yeah I think I've spoken all my points but the last thing which I want to add here the traffic report says that uh they are allowed to add the egress from
the pargate but that egress is only five car lengths. So just keep in mind when we are making this decision. Thank you. Thank you very much sir. Okay Misha. Um just for a moment. So the packet that was handed up um by Mr.
Wide, thankfully our board secretary has made some copies for the applicant's attorney as well as for the board and myself. We are marking the packet as objector 101 and it consists of 19 pages. Um and Mr. Prasad, if you wanted
to comment on that now or later, that's up to you. Um I'll let the public continue their uh comment section. Okay. Thank you very much. All right. Next member within next president within 200 feet of subject site. Um he was actually but you're next sir.
Sir, would you raise your right hand? Good evening. Bruce Sites. Would you raise your right hand? Do you solemnly swear or affirm tell the whole truth nothing but the truth to help you God? I do. And please state your full name. Provide your address. Bruce Sites, 88 Park 8 Drive, Edison,
New Jersey. Um I'm going to take a little different of a approach here. Uh I've we've spoken with Scott Vene the neighbors and everything and there are some valid points here. Um I'm saying
different approach. I'm a marketing executive. I work with mergers, acquisitions, new products, uh files filing with the FDA in Washington. And there's two issues here. I believe there's not clarity. And since there
isn't clarity, I want to create some doubt. And as I say in my presentations, here are some issues to be addressed. So I have some points here that I will read it. I have handouts that I could give to
the um zoning board, but I think if I go through them more quickly rather than having more paper to go through and it'll be a matter of record, um I think that would suffice. Um obviously,
um it's unanimous that all the residents think this is not a good fit for traffic, for noise, for safety issues. I'm going to stop you there. Whether it's unanimous or not, each person can testify as to their opinion and position. So, the board can't consider
your um comment that it is unanimous that all residents are opposed. Okay. Okay. I stand corrected. So, let me raise a couple of the issues here then and I'll stick to my script. Uh there are no real facts or specifics about attendance or
the traffic situation at the 3880 park 8 harbor building. The head of the temple at the last meeting talked about his vision, his hopes and his dreams and the incurrences at his home where they currently have 600 members. Okay. Why
are 600 members going to travel 30 miles to attend services? Isn't there something closer? Okay. Um, so the situation at this home cannot be projected into a new situation. If I was
introducing a new product, I would have sales history to base it on. What they're doing is making a lot of assumptions that these are the hours and this is the number of people. Okay. Point two. I question a traffic study as it does not represent actual conditions
during school days and when vacations are uh in in not in effect. So that was not accurate. The police sergeants report as issued also creates some doubt about the traffic and only said um that
it should be used for one way. Okay. the owners. We try to collaborate. The owners of the property have refused to meet with the park a board or council to discuss working out a meet a meaningful relationship so that perhaps we wouldn't
have to go through all this with the board and perhaps even tonight if there is enough doubt you will postpone this to do more homework and have more information. Okay. Um, number four, my opinion, why would a religious organization want to
move into a warehouse instead of a regular building that had meeting rooms and office space? Um, who are the other tenants in the 90% of the building? What if there's light manufacturing there for which it's zoned and they have two or
three shifts running? So would I want to have my religious organization next to a worring or a pounding or a banging or anything? There are dozens of other locations in the within two miles
um that are much more suitable. Okay, it doesn't make sense. Um number five, and I I'm not going to elaborate on what's in the area. Okay. Number five, if they are still rent, if they're renting a very small portion of the
building, 2,800 ft, which is less than 10%, what are their expansion plans? That has not been specific. A couple of the residents previously alluded to, what about the growth? Okay. And what would
further acceleration do to expand all of the current inherent problems? Will they guarantee they will not expand their membership and space exponentially create a horrible situation with traffic safety noise problems for this
wellestablished quiet residential neighborhood? Number six, they made a claim at the August hearing about not being able to make left turn out of the south entrance. I don't want to to discuss traffic studies
or anything like that, but if anybody goes down Park Avenue from Talmage up into where the other temple is, every property there, people are making a left turn out. They wait for the traffic. Um they they if they don't want to wait to
make a right turn and go around a block. There's a similar situation on Oak Tree Road. Divine Pharmacy try to make a left turn at Oak Tree Road, but people work and they do it and it creates potential hazardous situations. So, I just think
this is a wrong location at the wrong time. there were other options and again I'm trying to raise issues that would create doubt have further um considerations more guarantees
and leaving other more favorable options to keep the sanctity the safety and the um the quality of life in an ABUD. Thank you. Thank you very much Mr. Prasad. Um the only thing that I would like to
address um is the expansion. We did touch on that in the last hearing. Um we we said that we don't have any anticipated plans to expand further than we are. Uh this building is providing more space and we accounted for 40 to 50 people as
the expansion. Um other than that, that's what we that's what we intend to be at. If we outgrow the space, we'll get a new space. But um the reason why we chose this is funding. It's a nonprofit organization. religious organization. They don't have unlimited amounts of money. Um, so if we could
build a building, I'm sure we would. Uh, but at the moment, we're taking what we have and we have no plans to further exceed what we are asking for from this board. Thank you very much, sir. Raise your right hand. Do you solemnly
swear or affirm to tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth? So, I help you, God. I do. I do. Okay. And state your full name. provide your address. Uh hello, good evening. My name is Prashant Chila. I stay at 1026
Waterford Drive, Edison. Yeah. And thank you for the opportunity. I just want to uh bring a couple of points. Excuse me, sir. I'm just want Are you within 200 feet of subject site? Sorry. Are you within 200 feet of the site? If you were within 200 feet, you received a
notice certified. You're not. Okay. So, we're going to you're going to have an opportunity to speak, but right now we're just with residents within 200 ft. So, so just hold hold your hold your thought and you you'll come up in a few minutes. Thank you very much. Is there anyone in else within 200 feet of subject site wanting to be heard? As a
reminder, if you're within 200 feet, you received a nose via certified mail. Last call. Okay. All right. So, we're going to go without outside 200 feet. Sir, you may come back up. But make sure you got your exercise
going back and forth. Thank you so much. So yeah, so I my name is Prashant Chila as I told and I do stay in Waterford Drive. So I have been uh regular visiting this temple in Lindrust. So the problem here is uh we need to travel one
and a half hours one way and again come back. So we just stay there for 15 to 13 minutes and just the quiet environment. And about the events right? So the management whatever the events they manage they strictly do manage by uh
registration. So pre-registration so if they if there is any event then we have to register ourself and once that cap is done then they stop the registration that was that is my experience. So uh actually I will mean uh to nearby
my place if any this temple actually this temple is of lord vital. So which is very I did not see any temple in New Jersey for that god. So this is the very first temple and I was very happy that if it is coming near to my place. Yeah.
So thank you. Yeah it is uh C H I L L A L for London. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you so much sir. Anyone else from outside 200 feet? Well, nobody said there was on the line,
so All right. Well, I didn't know that. Okay. Um, I am guessing you are not 18 years of age, but we will certainly hear you, but I don't think I'm going to swear you in. Do you know what is the truth and what is a lie? Yeah.
Okay, that's sufficient. Um do you have any objection Mr. Prasad? Okay. Um would you state your full name and provide your address then say what say what you need to. Hello my name is Shria Kale and I live at 33 Hotrron Drive Edison. One of the
deities that I worship is Vittal. There is a deity of Vittal in Pandarpur a small village located in located in West India. I go there often with my family and grandparents. I also went there in my recent India trip during my summer
break. It was a quiet place for me to pray. When I heard that Vittal Mander was coming to New Jersey, I was so happy. But it is still hard for us to go to Lindis New NJ, which is why I want Vitt Mandir to come to Edison so I can
go to pray with my family more often. Thank you. Thank you so much. You did a great job. We appreciate it. Okay, next. Next person. Did you raise your right hand? Do you solemnly swear or affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth, nothing but the truth to help you God?
Yes, I do. And state your full name for the record. And provide your address. My name is Rudula Jooshi. Uh my address is 12 Foxhole Road, Edison, New Jersey. Um and I hope everyone's having a good
evening. Um I'm here to support the Vitel Mander that's moving in Edison, moving to Edison. And I'd just like to say how much of an impact that it's had on me. Um I'm a freshman in college currently and um I'm out of the house
most of the time. So when I come back home I enjoy spending time with my family going to the temple. Um it's usually like a 15 20 minute visit but it gives us a lot of peace, happiness and I think we were all very uh overjoyed that
it's coming so close to our homes. And I think that bringing it so close to our homes is going to create more of a uh larger community that will enjoy this worship. And um I think that the temple is is very quiet, very respectful. Um
our beliefs are such that we don't believe in the loud music like um unnecessary uh noise or uh lighting. And I think that um the atmosphere overall is calm and spiritual and um it's going
to be open to everyone which means it's going to be teaching us great values like peace, kindness, equality in general and I think that it's going to be um a great like addition to Edison and it will reflect the beliefs that
Edison already holds. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next person with outside 200 feet. Raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm to tell the whole truth? Nothing but the truth. So help you God. Yes. And state your full name. Provide your address.
Uh my name is Tarendra Lakar. I address Hold on a moment. I think we need a spelling. Okay. So my name is Tarendra Lakar. It's T A R E N D R A. Last name is Lenar. L A
K H A and K A R 192 Evergreen Road Apartment 12A Edison, New Jersey 08837. Good. Okay. So, uh I mentioned my name. I'm a senior scientist uh an adjunct professor. I teach space science. I do
research in space science at city of New York. We are NASA center there and Noah center. uh I believe in science but same time science alone cannot bring us a development path. I believe this uh I
choose to this township to stay make my resident last 15 years before because I believe this is the most diverse and inclusive city in this whole New Jersey where you find diversity among different countries of people coming here and India of course and and other Asian
countries. I here uh today uh to request humbly to the all board members to to support and approve this Hindu Mandr of Lord Vitella in Edison and uh everybody I know many of you must be following the religion and then what we do in Hindu
Mandi go we sit down there and the floor and close your eyes and pray pray for 10 minutes 15 minutes depend upon the time and what we looking for the inner peace in this world of last two and a half years there are fighting between Ukraine Gaza Everything fighting going on. What
are you looking for? Small peace. I agree that we are we are compromised some some small traffic issues here and there lot of people mention but what is looking for a peace and in future there is a lot of need of those piece because out of distraction the small girl talk about this piece right a lot of
distraction social media everything is there but you're looking for a small piece let them take the kids to that place and and and believe in such a small piece. So that's the uh that's the whole goal of this. So this the temple envision more than just place of worship. It a center of peace with families still connect together and
through the spiritual heritage what we bring from our country. I'm Indian originally through the traditions. Okay. And and and and I believe that this proposed location mand respectful for local regulations mean of course when we go there are other temples we go to
Bridgewater other places and we make sure to clean that area. We also volunteer to clean area. If you see in the garbage lake lying on stone, we will be there to pick up those garbage. We do volunteer. We do all cleaning volunteers different churches. We go to churches. We'll go to temples also and making sure
that whole premise will be clean and and and follow the regulations. I with that words I thank you everyone and looking forward your positive on this issue. Thank you very much. Next person within 200 ft. I'm sorry outside 200 feet. Sir, raise your right hand. Do you
solemnly swear or affirm to tell the whole truth? nothing but the truth to help you. God, I do. And state your full name for the record, your address as well. Robert A. Yianazo Y A two N's A two Z's as in zebra O. Um I should be considered
part of the 200. I'm a Parkgate resident. I feel that we all should have been notified. Your address, please. 27 Carriage Place. And um I am a retired public architect having
worked originally for uh Middle Sex County Engineers Office and then retiring from Hudson County as the chief architect. Um I'm here over concerns of safety. This is a change in use. And while I
understand what the board said earlier about this being a owner owner agreement, I slightly disagree because you as a zoning board are here to discuss a change in use, not a zoning uh
owner agreement. This is a change in use. The agreement we had was because it was a um restricted industrial. We restricted that agreement. I am very familiar with easements with covenants
of this type having advised county council on such matters for property that the county was going to have to purchase. And this is one of those agreements. We limited it to certain restrictions.
Uh the executive office, the those staff members. We did we were concerned about the traffic when this was instituted. This was acceptable at the time due to the use. Now that you're considering as
a board a use a different use that becomes almost null and void to the fact this becomes a basic house of worship. As one of your speakers just eloquently
said this is open to everybody that uh the larger community they welcome this as a larger community. That means that the traffic study is null and void. That this will eventually become the traffic
nightmare that we are seeing now with the approval that you made with the mosque up the street. I now that I'm retired walk around the property and um I walked down Nefki one Friday. It was
3:00 in the afternoon. The traffic study did not site what day it was done. Uh it did site times and while I agree with the 4:45 as being a rush hour type, the
uh mosque puts out u traffic at around 3:00 and that traffic there were 131 cars parked on Nefki that all have to come down to the Park Avenue Stevenville to make the left or try to make lefts to go
down Park Avenue. They were on both sides of Nefki that prevents uh traffic uh emergency vehicles from getting down into that community. This obviously was approved by the board and as one of the
other eloquent speakers spoke about that um I'm sure no one understood at that time when the board looked at it uh the amount of traffic that it would generate and I'm sure there was a traffic study done. I'm sure there was uh equivalent
uh hypo hypothesises done. However, it has changed and it has affected the community. Now you're talking about possibly putting another facility that will tie up Stevenville even more. The Edison police have to patrol um when uh
the the mosque is in session. Uh are we going to have to have Edison patrol again um at more days of the week? Um the this is a danger to pedestrians. The
it was also cited that the facility is not totally um uh in use. As I walked out of the gate, there's a curve that goes in front of our gate house and allows traffic to get into that
property, which we want to have closed off. We want that agreement changed and you as a board can uh consider the safety issues of that agreement. You uh
and we need to um consider the fact that I personally almost got hit as a pedestrian. a car came around going really quick around that curve in front of our gate house and entered the property and that's when
it's not occupied. The other thing that I had a opportunity to review the drawings, I do not see the safety concerns that need to be there. Uh the IBC based on the uh hall of 1084 and uh
of 1084 square ft. Um as well as the um there's two offices listed. There's a pantry listed. Now the uh speaker said that there is no food. Well, if there's
no food to be provided uh then there uh why is there a pantry? Uh there's a stage area. Based on all of that, you're up to about 160 potential people by the IBC, the international building code. Um
and the around the deity areas it's un um you can't tell what is going around the deity areas. Um it is very possible based on uh people standing that another
58 people could be standing there. That means there could be a potential for over 200 people in that small space. There it's upstairs. Um there didn't seem to be any uh consideration done for
separating the space. So your time is up. So if you could just wrap up. I can wrap up. Uh what I wanted to say is that the the second story is an accessory use that they already said was offices. you're now asking to put
another accessory use in which again is uh a change in use and generally is not allowed. Thank you, Michelle. So, um the board has no jurisdiction over the private roadway. The private
roadway um I understand is maintained snowplow and it is an agreement between the two parties. Um so the board has zero jurisdiction. Mr. Prasad, I agree with uh Miss Shaw. Okay. All right. Next person outside of 200 feet wanting to be heard, please
approach. Please come up, sir. You're outside 200 feet. So, it's open open mic. Sir, raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or to tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth to help you God? Yes, I do. And state your full name. Provide your address. Just go slow.
Manik Bapat, M A N I K B A P A T. I live in 52 Netherwood Circle, Edison. Netherwood circle. I go to this temple. Um I drive for one and a half hours and then go to Lindhurst, park somewhere um where there
is um parking and then walk for 20 minutes to the temple. I do that once in a month and it is very good to have some temple near my house and I see that many people talk about traffic where is no there is no traffic in New Jersey if one
person can find me a trafficless road in New Jersey I will give them $1,000 so what I'm saying here is traffic can be a problem it can be anywhere I mean if you go to um these schools in JP Stevens across all these schools in the morning
7:30 you'll be stuck at traffic are you going to close the schools? No. So you you have to function life. So you need prayer places, you need schools, you need everything. So we have to have these things and it's good place where we are seeking peace as one of my
friends said. So um I fully support this temple and I pray um that this resolution gets passed. Thank you. Thank you so much. Next person want to be heard. Sure. Raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm to tell the whole truth,
nothing but the true self you got? I do. And state your full name. Provide your address. I am Sabapati Sadas and I live in 57. I think you're going to have to spell that. Sorry, ma'am. Sabapati. S A B A P A T H
Y S A D A S I V A M. and I live in 57 Gate House Lane which is uh in the Parkate Condominium Association. We appreciate sir. Thank you. Yes sir. And um I was so excited
by couple of my friends said that there was no Whittle temple nearby and they are excited to visit the temple. I am a strong believer of faith. And I follow the Hinduism religion and I
used to visit Hindu temples. In an auspicious day, if I visit the temple, I'll be seeing not more than 50 to 100 people gathered to the temple to pray and worship. If the same amount of crowd
is expected in a park, okay, you can imagine how much of traffic congestion it is going to be creating. In today's world, okay, on morning and in the evening, you can see how much of
cars which has been lined up in the traffic lights. And if the same has been allowed for a worship place in that area, it will be much more chaotic and it will be very challenging for the school buses and for every commuter
also. So I kindly request the board to consider this option so that the parate I do agree that the traffic we cannot live without traffic but we can try to prevent a little bit from our efforts.
Thanks. Thank you very much sir. Next resident want a beard. Sir, would you raise your right hand? Do you solemnly swear or affirm to tell the whole truth? Nothing but the truth help you got. Yeah, I do. And state your full name for the record. Provide your address.
Sure. My name is Mahesh Wani and I live at 95 Harding. If you could just spell your last name just for the corporation. W A N I. Thank you very much. All right. So uh the the place the suggested place is actually a walking distance from my home and I've been
walking I mean I walk around in the evenings. So I see a lot of people having concerns about traffic and I agree traffic in in general has increased but as we said before the temple itself has even if it has 600
members as advertised on the website we are a very small community that actually believes in that particular diet. We are a small community that actually uh wants this to come to Edison so that we can go there. I mean maybe walking distance or
even drive to some extent rather than having to drive one and a half hours to Linders where the place is right now. Uh we really want this to be here because u we see that I mean it it's going to bring a lot of value to Edison. It
basically u is going to promote lot of peace, harmony and I guess equality that's what that actually the deity preaches and if we feel that u traffic is a concern and I guess the experts
have suggested in the past that there are ways to mitigate that. I would think uh having a small number of people that actually go every day and that that should not worsen the condition of traffic in my opinion. So to keep it
simple I think it becomes convenient for that small congregation to actually come visit this everyday spend some time in peace uh meditate pray and then go back to their everyday lives. So that's my simple and uh small uh humble request
that you all approve this. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next person want to be heard. Anyone? Okay. Sorry, sir. Raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm to tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth to help you God? Yes, I do. And state your full name. Provide your
address. Dr. Nathan Chitra, spelled as Ni T I N. Last name Chitra. C H I T R E. I live at 69
Reier Boulevard, Edison, New Jersey. Uh I'm here to talk about the the temple to be uh here so we can uh benefit from worshiping in the area. Let me tell you about the background about this uh
so-called worship place. It's not a temple temple. It's like a worship place uh if I would put it that way. Uh it is right now in a garage of uh a friend of mine in Lindhurst
and has been active for last two years. No loudspeakers, no lights, no complaints from any of the community around. You can imagine how peacefully they have worked. Now we
want them to have a bigger place and we thought that Edison would be the right place as I would put it. U this deity is one of a few thousands of Hindu deities and
the followers are quite limited. As initially when I came here and was exposed to the temples and the churches and the mosques I had a feeling church is a church is a church is a church temple is a temple is a temple is a temple it is not like that right do you
understand so it is a certain group of people who go to a certain temple or a certain church or a certain uh I don't know want to talk about uh other uh religions to offend anybody
So the the followers are quite limited as it has been continuing to operate in for the last 2 years in the place which is a a a garage and we just want a bigger place and uh we thought a place
where there is enough parking what to expect uh better than a place which is a a a a place like a go which is an industrial place. Now for the community to be
around, would they want a industrial uh you know facility to be there with trucks moving around with tons of garbage uh tons of uh uh things to be moved around and causing more traffic problems
or worshippers coming there which who will be coming there for a limited amount of time. And it is not like where this community prays. It is not like they they worship at a certain day at a
certain time. They worship at any time and we'll be respecting the norms of uh the the the attendees who are going to be there and uh they will be following all the rules and regulations. The
traffic problems well somebody wants to take a left turn in a wrong place. Well, people are going to be there like that and we cannot control that. We we just go by the the limiting uh the amount of traffic as much as we can. And you can
imagine that uh people going to a worship place, they don't have to go at a certain if they don't have to go at a certain time or a certain day, they will be going leisurely because they're going to a place of peace. uh trying to gain
peace and be spending some time with their uh you know u trying to pray without any hassle or rushing. At the same time when they're coming out they'll be coming peacefully out. So that traffic urgency is never going to
be there. Well the left turns in the wrong spot is going to be universal. It's going to be everywhere. the the management has agreed that they are not going to have any bigger gatherings at that place. In the past
whenever they had any bigger gatherings they chose to do those gatherings gatherings in places like bigger parks even they had sometime uh certain gatherings in the town of Edison. So all of those things are taken care of and uh
very diligently you know attended to. The other thing I would uh like to uh talk to the people who are more concerned about u a religious place being there and this place can tomorrow
be rented out to another go down and they will have rather more problems to deal with than a a place of worship where people come quietly
peacefully. fully and do their uh you know worship and uh you know see the meet each other for a short time and uh pray and are on their way. So this is my
humble opinion that this is not likely to cause any bigger problems for the community and uh I request the council to consider this in that uh light. Thank you very much for listening. Thank you very much. Anyone else want to
be heard? Sir, sir, raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm to tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth to help you God? I solemnly swear that I I'm going to say nothing but the truth. And state your full name and provide your address.
My name is Raj Nagarajin. Can you pull the microphone a little bit closer? Yeah. My name is Raj Nagarajin. I live in 33 Heritage Drive. I have been living in Edison for the last 24 years. Most of the town knows me because I'm
very connected to the community because I'm a community activist, right? Wherever people need help, I go help. So that's besides the point. I was not going to come here. I came here because I was watching these proceedings on YouTube. Right? That's one of the good
things that is happening in Edison for the last several years after we lobbyed right. So there's been a lot of misinformation right that's been passing around that people have spoke about right in the past. So it was very important for me to come here right to
make sure that I am able to clarify as well as put the truth in front of all of you right first of all I heard people talking about you know kids being affected right anywhere you go to an Hindu temple it's unlike a unlike a mosque okay so we
don't have 1:00 prayers the 2:00 prayers it doesn't happen okay so whenever a gathering happens it either happens in the evening or happens earlier in the morning. Okay, so that is a time when there is no school bus, there's no school anything involved. Okay, number
one. Number two, I have visited their temple. Okay, I mean I'm not part of their congregation. I don't belong to their congregation. I have nothing to do with them. Okay, I'm only here because I looked at YouTube, right? I'm here as a resident of Edison, as a you know,
somebody who cares about Edison. Okay. So all the issues that were brought up, right, regarding traffic, it's because of several other reasons because you have other commercial buildings there and unfortunately Edison part of Park Avenue is the route to go to South
Planefield and Planefields, right? And every I mean I I drive there a couple of times a day. Okay? Like if I get bored, I just drive around, right? So all the accidents everything is fine. Last 40 years Edison has changed. It has nothing to do with what they want, right? All
they want is a small place to worship. And having gone to their uh place which is in a garage in Linhurst, right? One thing that I found fascinating was they were following the traffic rules. Okay? I went on a day called Asha Kajasi,
right? A lot of Indians would know about it, right? That's when thousands of people gather for Krishna, right? On that day there were I think around 200 people but we there was no parking. We are not allowed to park in no parking
and even when we entered and exited they were ensuring that there's a order there is a queue there is everything right I went there twice I did not see any half aad anything there okay finally what I would want to say before I walk away is
I think you should consider right what is right and wrong because it has to be fair around 15 years ago I'm sure the council and uh chair ka would know Right. Right on Main Street, right? Part of Edison on the other side of Matachin.
There was a temple, right? That they were trying very hard for 5 years. Okay. Zoning board rejected uh their proposal. They appealed. Appeals were rejected. Right after that, right, a builder went in there. They built fourstory building,
office building, right, with very less parking. But the reason given by the zoning board then to that temple right was that oh your parking was not enough. Okay. So when you are making a decision today I humbly request you to think about Edison think about fairness right
and do the right thing. Thank you. Thank you very much. Any anyone else want to be heard? Sir, would you raise your right hand? Do you solemnly swear or affirm to tell the whole truth? Nothing but the truth to help you God. Yes, I do. Then state your full name. Provide your
address. My name is Arvind Tut. A R V I N D T H A T T E. I live at 4 Sunshine Lane, Edison, New Jersey. I am a representative of EDO District 71. On
behalf of the residents, I have come here uh to to plead this case. Well, sir, you can't you can't plead the case on behalf of residents. You as a resident uh you can certainly provide your opinion, but you can't plead it on behalf of anyone
else. Okay, you can put your hand down, sir. You can put your hand down. You're good. You can be comfortable. Yeah. Now, the temple that is coming here is the dity and the devotees have a legacy
of 300 to 400 years. The devotees have been very peaceful and uh very respectful of all the uh all the people around here. The uh devotees who are coming
will also be very peaceful. They are all educated and they respect the property and the neighborhood. So you should consider this. This place was initially assigned for probably cannabis and if
some such thing comes like a vaping shop or other thing it would have been a disaster for us. Whereas the temple or the place of worship is a better solution and I request the board members
to give their consent and uh give us a place to worship. Thank you. Thank you very much. Anyone else want to be heard? Sir, raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm to tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth to help you? I do.
Can you uh please state your full name? Provide your address. Yeah. My name is Sachin Kale, 33 Han Drive, Edison. How do you spell your last name? K A L E. And the the little girl which came right, she is my daughter. And I'm very happy from last two years whatever
we are visiting this temple once in a month right that brought up such thing that she herself wanted to come and talk about this so that is one of the positive impact right what we see in our kids in our next generation in this chaotic world right that's the one place
where we go for maybe 15 30 minutes we pray right like kind of a meditation for us and this is very small community within in like a Maharashtra state of India itself right it's uh not like we don't go other temples we do but this is
the temple right which is sometimes close to our heart that's why we visit once in a month but currently like it's take a hour or 1 and a half hour but if it comes to Edison it is like a 10 to 15 minutes for us and this will definitely like a bring the positive impact to my
family society and that I already see so just want to say that thank Thank you very much. Anyone else wanting to be heard? Sir, sir, raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm to tell the whole truth? Nothing but the truth. Help you God. Yes, I do.
State your full name. Provide your address. My name is Sanjay Wan. That's W A N K H E D. Um provide your address too, sir. Yeah, it's 121 Monro Avenue.
Um I live uh I've been living in Edison for last 15 years or so and to know the temple is coming to our place uh is very exciting news for me personally because I belong to the place from the state of Maharashtra from India. Uh there is
hardly a a house in the in our our place that have don't know this dity right and this is a our cultural tradition for 400 years or so. So and then the the diety itself you know uh embodied is the peace
tranquility and uh equality among the people and it's for this small community of ours we need this you know this temple to nearby our house right now it's been hour and a half and two hours going through that whole traffic and coming back that's and that's once in a
in so just we go like month or you know two months so that becomes even a challenge when you know You have to go to some auspicious days like the Ashari Kadeshi that's one of a kind if you here there's a big procession happens in India there thousands and thousands
people walk from longer distance to the diet's place so that place is also becomes you know on those days we just want to visit a place so if we get something like here that will be really you know really blessings and we want to spread the teachings and the blessings
in in our township area. So I believe you guys will uh understand our feeling and uh prove us. Thank you. Sorry. 121 Monroe Avenue
121 M O NE Monroe. Thank you very much sir. We appreciate it. Anyone else wanting to be heard? Last call. Anyone want to be heard, sir? Sir, raise your right hand. Uh, do you solemnly swear or affirm to tell the
whole truth? Nothing but the truth help you. God, I do. And state your full name. Provide your address, please. Philip, Phip P. Last name Alamp A PI, 707 Holly Lane, Cedar Grove.
Property manager. Sir, if you could just pull the microphone up just a little bit. Thank you. Appreciate property manager for Parkgate Condominium Association probably for a little over uh 30 years. Um I read the letter that came from the
police department and I I was happy to see that he suggested left turn only. Um I've been there 30 years. I was there when uh Mr. Wentz was almost killed at that corner before the traffic light was there. Um I was the property manager at
the site and uh uh Hariba was a different type of um neighbor. They had a very low amount of um cars that came into the community. Couple secretaries, a couple executives. It was mostly uh truck traffic every day
that came in through the other entrance. In the last 30 years, I've seen school buses all of a sudden come to Park Gate. Um 25 years ago, there weren't school buses at Park Gate. There were no children at Park Gate. Now the property is full of children. And I think that's
a big consideration here. And I think that the recommendation of the police department to make left turns only isn't enough. It really should be a chain there. Um a push through for the fire department in case of an emergency to get in. There should be no access on to
Parkgate Drive because I'm sure you're aware Park Gate Drive is a non-conforming road. Um five cars can fit at that traffic light, which is new. It's a brand new traffic light. Um, we have a gate that comes down. We have cars that have to pass through that
gate. By adding more cars into that line of only four or five, the gate's going to come down on top of people's vehicles. People are going to run into the backs of other vehicles. And there's only one exit for well over 700 cars at this community. We don't use the Talmage
Road exit. We're not allowed to. The fire department has that closed. Thank you very much, sir. Anyone else? Sir, sir, raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear or affirm to tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth to help you God? Yes, I do. And state your full name for the record.
Provide your address. Sure. My name is Dr. Koshik Dave. My spelling of my first name is K A U S H I K. Dav is just da V. I happen to own some properties in Mark 8, but I live at
four Winter Street in Edison. I've lived in Edison for 25 years. My two kids went through all the schooling here, born and raised. I just wanted I don't envy you, you gentleman's job here and a lady to deal with this and but I feel that
she's getting paid. We're not. But then I feel let the record reflect. You know that too at 9:00 at night. I won't work that late. You can sign sign a note. Tell my wife that I'm here. Go ahead, sir. I'm sorry to take you. She may not trust me. I don't want to
get you in trouble because of you. But anyway, on a serious note, you guys are not naive. Yeah. But I just wanted to highlight three things which I hope you consider. One, if you think about it for a moment, I just stood at the back. Yeah, I've not followed this on any
YouTube. I don't have time to do it. But nevertheless, on one hand, they're saying it's a overflow of 50 people, but they're in a garage with 600 people. I'm having problems processing that in my brain. So, I'm sorry to say that's difficult to
understand and believe, okay, as a fact. Second thing is safety. Since I own properties there, I've never lived in Park. I do go there quite often. You should, I'd suggest strongly take some time on a school day at 8:00. Go there,
see the mass you see. I tried to avoid that place like a flag on those days. Finally, you guys might have been involved in making the decision about the mosque around the corner. I suggest you go there on Friday at 1 p.m. and see
for yourself what you were sold versus what you ended up with. So, thank you very much for your time. Thank you so much. Anyone else want to be heard? Sir, did you speak? No, you only get one. You only get one bite of the apple, sir. I'm sorry. Anyone else?
Sir, hello. My name is Manish Ah. M A N. Sir, hold on. Raise your right hand. Do you still swear or from tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth to help you God? I do. Okay. And state your full name. Provide your address. Yeah. My name is Manish. M A N I S H and
last name is Aire A H I R E and my address is 68 Wintergreen Avenue East Addison, New Jersey 08820. As one of my friend said right that Park Avenue is only is a connectivity. It's like a portal to the whole world. You go
to Piscataway, you go to Kilmer, you go to South Benfield, you go to Kohl's. So there is always a traffic So I don't think five six devotees which will come at a varied hours either in the morning or other in the evening will impact any
traffic and if parate drive today has issue to come out of for 700 people cars five six cars is not going to add to the problem it's already an existing problem then they should either close the gate and open up a different that's my
concern so my opinion is lot Lot of people objected to this worship pleaser. So Lord wish we so how? So this is only woripped by a small community column Maharashtrans and the perception of other Hindu people
who say lot of people with that is based on their experience based on the region which they belong and based on the daties they do so but that's not the case with the our current temple in Linders which is 2 hours far
away. So I think in my opinion we should be given an opportunity for a small space to worship. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you so much. Anyone else want to be heard? Sir may swear or affirm. Tell the whole truth nothing but the truth. So help you God.
I do. And state your full name. Provide your address. I'm Rajes Chan. My the spelling is R A J E N I S H J A I N is my last name. Okay. So address
114 Park Gate Drive. That is may proceed, sir. Thank you. Yeah, I I I think uh I I'm not here to add a lot. All I would say is right now it's over capacity as we all know and every drop would add to this. So which
means uh it it's going to be a lot more problem than we already are facing in the park overall. And in a community of thousands of people with hundreds of kids going to school every day in and out having uh a worship place right
outside the community is a very bad idea in my opinion. it is going to impact everyone to the safety of the kids to the mental health of the kids to overall you know their life everyday life so I I
would be really and and the the motive of worship is peace right it's not peaceful to residents who are staying there it's not serving the objective so I would say it's defeating the purpose of for your own peace you're destroying the peace of others so I would I would
stay against that I mean just the idea itself is bad in my opinion. That's all I have to say. Thank you. Thank you so much. Anyone else? Sir, solemnly swear or affirm. Tell the whole truth nothing but the truth to help you God. Yes, I do. And state your full name for the record.
Uh my name is uh Serves Nikumba. S A R V E S H N I K U M BH. I live at 131 Linda Lane, Edison, 0882. 31 Linda Lynn L I N D A Len Edison. So I
I'm going to this temple from last 2 years and um uh as uh mentioned by my uh other uh uh friends uh currently it takes like almost one to one and a half year uh half uh hour um each way to get
to that place. um like um I'm currently working in a software industry and sometime like it just uh takes a kind of a piece uh to settle down the things and get some positive impact by visiting the
dati and u after I heard the news like the temple is coming to Edison like uh which is close to my place I I feel like um this will bring uh more uh positiveness ness to me and my family
and u I kindly request all the members to approve this temple. Thank you. Thank you so much. Anyone else? Sir, good swear. Do you solemnly swear or affirm to tell the whole truth nothing but the truth? So I help you God. Yeah, I do. And could you state your full name for
the record? Provide your address. My name My name is Deepankar Patil. D E E P A N K A R surname is partly P A T I L. My address is 805 Cinder Road, Edison NJ.
Uh it's 805 Cinder Road, Edison NG 0820. Um I'm uh I'm visiting uh Lindhurd's temple for last two years mostly on the weekends and the congregation is never more than 20 to 30 people. So I never
say it's like a huge crowd in that area at all. Um and again the u the event lasts not more than like say 30 to 40 minutes. I never uh in that space for longer than that. Um and uh there is one
gentleman talking about like 600 people. So that's like that's a WhatsApp group. There is no event happened on these locations where number of peoples are always less than 20 to 30. I never encountered more than that. And the
deity which we are talking about it is from state of Maharashtra very specific to the Marati people and uh possibly I even in all those congregations I never really find anyone else uh from our country like anyone else with a
different language. is always like a specific Marathi people group and the families which we always meet in there. The traveling to the Lindhards is like almost like one one and a half hours of uh distance each way. Uh if we get this temple nearby that will certainly u help
us uh guess that's that's much I'll say. Thank you very much. Thank you so much. Anyone else? Last call. Sir, solemnly swear from tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth. So hope you got I do.
And state your full name. Provide your address. Edward Abade 65 Gate House Lane. Sorry. What's your last name? Abade ABA ID. You may proceed, sir. Thank you. Thank you. So just uh two points, two
problems with what's been discussed so far. One is that this is just a snapshot in time that we're looking at in terms of number of people and number of cars. I don't see any guarantees that that wouldn't be able to grow, double, triple,
whatever, 10 times as much. I don't see what would prevent the landlord from renting further space to this particular congregation or others multiple times. Which leads to my second point. Second
problem is that approval of potential approval of this would set a precedent. Perhaps an undesirable precedent that you may be a similar group might be here
again in one two years with a different deity or a different group and that would just have increased the numbers that we're talking about today. So, um just consider that approval of it would
then hamper the ability to judge future I think uh future such proceedings uh for a different application in the same property. Thank you. Thank you very much. Anyone else want to be heard?
Sir, sir, would you raise your right hand? Do you solemnly swear or affirm to tell the whole truth? Nothing but the truths to help you God. I do. And state your full name. Provide your address. Uh James Mirbach at uh 10 Carriage
Place. M I R B A C H. Um first and foremost, the last few speakers uh talked about blessings, prayers, so forth. Um which I
think is a great thing. I find that having a place to do that is also important in a person's life. However, in the last hour and a half that I've
been sitting here, there are almost 20 people who want to have this location for them to be able to pray or get blessings. That tells me or suggests to me that the
the half dozen people that would show up tells me that there's going to be more than a half a dozen people showing up. I live in Park Gate. The traffic trying to get to work, you have to leave about an hour just to get out through the traffic
light. Coming back in is almost another 45 minutes. that used to take me somewhere is between 10 and 15 minutes. Now it's 45 minutes. Um, by adding even uh half a dozen more
cars just uh adds more insult to the driving experience. Thank you. Thank you very much. Anyone else want to be heard? Last call. Anyone want to be heard? Can I get a motion to close public portion?
Motion to close public portion. Second. Nick. Motion made by Mr. Schneider, second by Mr. Cher. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Oppos? Nay. Public questions now. Close. Um before you do your summation, we need a 5minute break. Absolutely. Thank you so much. Wait.
Okay. The court return to session. Mr. Pada. Um, as you know, we have no further witnesses for tonight. If I can just make a small, uh, summary of the testimony. Uh as we said multiple times and throughout several hearings, uh this is a small religious organization. We do
not anticipate to have more than 40 to 50 people per day for the entire day. Um we understand that Park Avenue has some traffic issues. However, six cars in the peak hour I do not believe will contribute significantly to any of those
traffic issues. uh this is an inherently beneficial use which means that the detriments have to substantially outweigh the benefits and to provide a place for the community to provide a place for worship for peace for prayer
uh somewhere where Edison residents do not have to drive 2 hours out of their way to spend 15 minutes to 20 minutes and then to drive another two hours on the way home seems like a very substantial benefit for not just this religious community excuse me, but the
township as a whole. Um, as we mentioned, there are several other permitted uses that could go into this building. Each one of those permitted uses would generate more traffic than what this small 2800 ft religious
organization will be generating. Um, I will reiterate that we will agree with the uh sergeant's letter only using the Parkgate uh drive as an e an egress only. Uh unfortunately we cannot put a gate there. That is not within our control, but we will comply with using
it as an egress only for safety purposes. That seems to be the concern of most residences and we obviously do not want to contribute to any safety concerns. Um that's all I would have to say. Uh I hope that this board looks favorably on
this application. We understand the concerns of the residences and we do not seek to exacerbate those concerns. We are a religious organization, not a chemical lab. Thank you. Thank you for hearing our testimony. Thank you for being patient through all the public testimony as well. Uh and I hope you have a great night. Thank you.
Thank you so much. All right, we'll go to the board, Mr. Chairman. Vice Chairman. Yes. I'd like to make a motion to approve this applications with some conditions. It's an inherent beneficial use. The um
um application will comply to the engineering reports and also the planners reports. The um peak cars per hour will be six hour. Six cars per peak hour as testimony. The entrance to park
gate will be uh permanently closed off for egress and uh entrance. And that's it. Um, I will add that the hours of operation will be Monday through Friday,
7:00 a.m. till noon and 400 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday will be 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Um, and also, Mr. Chairman, no food, no food served. Correct. I mean, no food served on site. Um the applicant will uh agree that
there will be no parking on any other sites. Um all traffic will be will utilize the south driveway. There will be no access to Park Drive. Any there will be no large events uh or
holidays uh celebrated on the site. there's anything beyond the normal course of business um that is was uh proposed at the site not all that will be the the congregation will seek an ex a uh external site for that so motion
made is there a second also I want to add that the the testimony was there's no loading docks so that will be included in the in the uh motion second motion made by vice chairman Gorman second by Mr. Patel on. Roll call,
please. Mr. Tra, no to the motion. Mr. Schneider, yes to the motion. Uh, Mr. Crito, no on the motion. Mr. Johnny, yes to the motion. Mr. Patel,
yes on the motion. Vice Chair Gorman, yes on a motion. And Chairman Gumba, yes on the motion. This case is is approved. Thank you, board chair. Thank you, members of the board. Have a great night. Thank you. All right. The the board is still in session. Madam Secretary, has any other business come before Sir,
you're out of order. Sir, you're out of order. Sir, you are out of order. If any of the partic officer Yeah, you can you can call. Madam Secretary, does any of the business come before the board this evening? That'll be all this evening. Can I get a motion to adjurnn?
Motion to adjurnn. Second. Motion made by Mr. Patel, seconded by Mr. Schneider. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Those nay. The eyes have it. Board stands adjourned. I'll be fine.